Shotlist

Marty, a "good boy," experiments with marijuana and experiences "profound mental and emotional disturbances." As in all anti-drug films of this vintage, marijuana leads straight to "H," and Marty's decline continues until he is busted, rehabbed and reformed.
Drug Addiction's stilted view of the urban drug culture and unrealistic portrayals of stoned slackers make it entertaining viewing today. It belongs to that little-known "second wave" of anti-drug films, the postwar scare stories about middle-class kids overcome by junkiedom. What this wave of films reveals is that drugs were an issue for white adolescents long before the psychedelic Sixties, and that the official response to the threat expressed a general, not specifically targeted paranoia.



Ken Smith sez: This film chronicles the decline and fall of "Marty" (see Are You Ready For Marriage?), a "good boy" who becomes a junkie. Marty's experimentation begins with marijuana, which produces "profound mental and emotional disturbances." Marty then goes straight to "H," which he buys from Louie, the local dealer (who keeps his stash in a lamp base). Marty is caught, sent to a drug rehab center (where he cuts down dead corn stalks and plays checkers), and reforms. The scene where Marty and some of his stoned friends drink out of broken Pepsi bottles is memorable. As in all drug films, the marijuana sequences are the most entertaining. "Thoughtless curiosity can lead to a lifetime of pain and torment!" The street pushers in this film wear turtlenecks.
This film begins with EXCELLENT shot of teens at a drive-in, sitting in convertible. Also, shot of teens stealing camera
"the very thoughtlessness of youth" leads to it
blacks visible
"wherever there is a troubled personality, no matter how hidden or unrecognized, there may be a seed bed for drug addiction"
"started by a friend. drug addiction is contageous"
"he was determined to be one of the gang if it killed him"
"befogged brain...a clever way to open pop bottles"
(pepsi PHOTO 7:32)
"will it make me sick like the reefers?" "I dare ya!"
(mainlining PHOTO 9:05)
Duke: "Mainline it. Like I'm doin'! The stuff costs too much to waste it."
Marty: "I don't wanna punch myself fulla holes like that."
(stealing from mom PHOTO 11:59)
"plagued by sudden attacks of vomiting and of diarrhea"
"You wouldn't help your mother out of a rat hole." "Don't be a square. You ain't got no chance. You're just a junkie to everybody around here."

John Galvarro -- "Marty Demalone" Beulah Brandon -- "Mrs Demalone"

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